Aboat time: Santa to arrive in Newry by water

You’ve heard the expression, “Do you think I came up the Canal in a bubble?” but have you heard the latest one, “Do you think Santa came up the Canal in a boat?”

Sleigh to go: Santa will travel up Newry Canal by boat

Well, if you haven’t, you’re about to hear a lot more about it because Newry looks set for a Christmas season to remember after details emerged today that Santa will arrive in the city by an unusual method.

The brainchild of Newry Maritime Association and the local Currach Club, Santa will come up the Canal via a lantern boat on Saturday 7th December 2013 at 5.30pm in an event which will run until 8.00pm.

Santa will be inviting the general public to come along to the pontoons opposite the Quays Shopping Centre and enjoy Currach boat rides by lantern up to the Albert Basin.

And… if you are feeling really adventurous you can also travel further up under the first two bridges as far as the bridge on Bridge Street.

Speaking to Newry Times at the launch, Mayor Councillor Michael Ruane said he was looking forward to the arrival of Santa.

“I hope the general public come along to experience this unusual and exciting event as the Currach boats have been a great success in Warrenpoint through the annual International Currach Championships held every year, which attracts visitors from all over Ireland, England and America.”

James McAreavy of Newry Maritime Association also expressed his delight at the event. “It’s fantastic to see the Currachs coming to the Albert Basin to further showcase the tremendous recreational benefits that the Canal has to offer to the people of Newry and the surrounding area.”

Newry’s Albert Basin is set to entertain the huge influx of visitors in the month-long initiative, which is a privately funded project that will take place from 7th December 2013 until 5th January 2014.

According to organisers the exciting initiative will include an ice rink, crazy golf, a drive in movie, an ice bar, Santa Town and a Santa’s workshop.

And as temperatures plunge and local people are getting into the festive spirit by ‘dancing on ice’ they could also be joined by the imposing figure of a big wheel dominating the Newry skyline.

According to the council proposal, local people are in line for a ‘cool’ experience. It is envisaged that visitors will enjoy their stay in a ‘city frozen in time’ after entering through an iceberg where they will collect their skates from an igloo and then skate with the penguins before having their photograph taken with the polar bars.

And in a boost for Newry’s hard hit unemployed, the £1.5m project is also expected to create nearly 30 temporary jobs locally.